Olympics-Swimming-IOC decline to comment on Ye

July 31, 2012|Reuters

LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - The International OlympicCommittee (IOC) declined to comment on Tuesday on thecontroversy surrounding the spectacular performances of Chineseswimmer Ye Shiwen in London but hinted she had not testedpositive for any drugs.

The 16-year-old Ye won the women's 400 individual medley inworld record time, with her final length of the freestyle fasterthan men's champion Ryan Lochte, and was the fastest qualifierfor the 200 individual medley final later on Tuesday, setting anOlympic record in qualifying.

Asked whether Ye's doping test had come in positive ornegative, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: "We would only commentif we had any adverse finding. I am not commenting, so you candraw your own conclusions.

"I think we need to get real here. These are the world'sbest athletes competing at the highest level."

Adams said the first five athletes in each event were testedand two others as well.

"We have a very, very strong drugs testing programme," hesaid. "If there are cheats we will catch them.

"You cannot stop speculation," Adams said. "It is somethingthat people talk about. It is a sad result of the fact thatthere are people who cheat. If you cannot applaud a goodperformance let's give the benefit of the doubt."

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ed Osmond and SonyaHepinstall)